The wealthy Chew family, part of colonial Philadelphia’s elite, plunged into such chaos in the mid-1800s it might make soap operas look anemic. “An Unhappy Discord,” a dramatic tour of Cliveden, the Chews’ country estate, lets visitors step back in time and not only see the handsome furnishings but hear about conflicts that roiled the household.

Actor Carol Spacht, who performed in premier settings, including the National Portrait Gallery and the White House, will portray Katherine Banning Chew (1770-1855), the beleaguered mother, widow, and executrix on whose shoulders the turmoil fell.

“We want visitors to get a more intimate view of the people who were living and working here,” said Carolyn Wallace, education director at Cliveden, a National Trust Historic Site completed in 1767. Other first-person character tours on the 5.5-acre site centered on James Smith, a Black coachman and butler born into slavery who later purchased his freedom, and Mary Bowman, a housekeeper.

Family fireworks erupted after Benjamin Chew Jr. (1758-1844) died. He and Katherine had had 13 children, seven of whom died young. “One son was lost at sea while serving in the military, and another drowned in the Schuylkill River,” Wallace said. Of the remaining six children, two were often “in liquor,” according to family letters. One son, Anthony, who may have had a laudanum addiction, got into fistfights with his eldest brother, Benjamin. “During a fight between two of the brothers, Katherine called on the constable to intervene,” Wallace said.

The family was fighting over access to funds and annuities, Wallace pointed out. The situation was maddeningly complicated, because Benjamin Chew Jr.’s will named five executors, including Katherine, all of whom had to agree on the handling of the estate. The executors were selling off land in western Pennsylvania to settle debts, Wallace said. Some executors challenged Katherine’s fitness to serve as an executrix, and eventually the court removed her.

Katherine, burdened by grief old and new, lived in this maelstrom.

For Carol Spacht, performing in northwest Philadelphia represents a homecoming of sorts. Spacht and her late husband, Dave, lived in Germantown years ago. Spacht started her theatrical career at the old Germantown Theatre Guild. Begun in 1933 during the Depression, this theater company offered an inexpensive alternative to the movies. It closed in 1997. Spacht brought to the organization skills honed during her acting studies at Villanova University and later at Eastern College, now Eastern University, where she earned degrees in literature and theater.

“The guild was absolutely wonderful,” said Spacht, who confesses she loves the joy of dressing up for performances. She contributed to dozens of scripts for children’s theater as a guild member.

Spacht and her family moved to Montgomery County where she and Dave began helping the public delve into the past. The Spachts operate a vintage-1950s sawmill which is at the heart of an education tour, “Trees to Lumber.” The program, which attracts many school students, acquaints them with forestry, sustainability, and the Pennsylvania lumber trade.

Spacht found other portals to the past. She wrote scholarly papers and completed a commissioned project culminating in the publication of “Whitpaine’s Creek,” a book on early Pennsylvania history. She also became director of drama at Faith Church — now Abide Church — in Worcester Township.

Spacht’s work in the church led to reenactment. “My very first character was Betsy Ross in 1989,” she said. She portrayed scenes from the life of the famed flagmaker and upholsterer at a patriotic concert held to celebrate the church’s 300th anniversary. She soon began performing for schools and social organizations.

Betsy Ross, while prominent in Philadelphia’s history, is less well known elsewhere. “Betsy Ross is a Pennsylvania story,” said Spacht, who has traveled to Nebraska, Texas, and other states to portray historic figures. Martha Washington has proved more popular in other parts of the country, according to Spacht, who has also appeared as Hannah Callowhill Penn (1671-1726), second wife of William Penn, and Juliette Gordon Low (1860-1927), founder of Girl Scouts of the U.S.A.

Spacht has preformed reenactments twice in the White House. The first time she went as Betsy Ross to a congressional picnic. The event took place over two days, once for the House of Representatives and the next day for the Senate.

During her second White House performance, Spacht portrayed Martha Washington on a ghost tour of the executive mansion. “It was fun to get behind the scenes,” she said. During another performance in Philadelphia as Betsy Ross, she met Michelle Obama. “It was one of the high points of my life,” Spacht said.

Spacht bases her performance as Katherine Chew on dozens of letters the troubled widow wrote. “The words are hers,” Spacht said. “I made them more concise to increase their clarity for modern audiences.” The script also eliminates instances where Katherine repeats herself. Visitors will hear her brief monologues in several rooms in Cliveden on the one-hour tour.

As for the culprit in the mayhem, Spacht and Wallace refuse to point a finger. “Listen and decide for yourself,” Spacht said.

“An Unhappy Discord,” geared for an audience age 12 and older, will be presented at Cliveden, 6401 Germantown Avenue, on Friday, Sept. 19, at 6:30 p.m., and Saturday, Sept. 20, at 12 p.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3 p.m. Tickets are $20. Call (215) 848-1777 or see cliveden.org.